Philosophy of Education

At Crossover, we believe that the same God who created the universe has also given us, his creatures, a hunger to know him and to understand the world he has made. This affects how we approach every subject. For example, we know God values literature because he has revealed his will through a book. We believe that science can discover reliable laws of nature because God has created the world to have order. We believe that history is important because it reveals God’s plan for the world. At the same time we recognize that, as Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Scripture tells us that if we “understand all mysteries and all knowledge” but have not love, we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Furthermore, the book of Proverbs reminds us that growing in wisdom is just as important, if not more so, than growing in knowledge: “Blessed is the person who finds wisdom…. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare to her” Proverbs 3:13a, 16). A Christian education, therefore, seeks to build up students’ knowledge, wisdom, and character. Students should know not only the important facts and figures of their subject, but also how to understand and apply that knowledge in life (critical thinking), and how to use it to bless and serve God and their community.

In our curriculum, this means that we work to ensure students have a strong foundation in the basics without being too focused on the teaching to the test or the skill and drill learning that is all too common today. Students have regular opportunities to practice higher-level skills like essay-writing, speech-giving, problem-solving, and experimentation. Teachers are encouraged to provide project-based learning activities, where students are collaborating and creating, not just sitting and listening. To facilitate this, we provide 1:1 technology access in the classroom for student use in research and beyond, and we organize students into teams for them to work and learn cooperatively with their peers.